EDWARD DANIEL THIBAULT, SR

On this fine day Sunday May 9, 2021, I, Edward Daniel Thibault Sr. left all my human ills on this earth,and joined my Lord in a much better place. I was born in Old Town Private Hospital on Oak Street in Old Town Maine May 29, 1958 to Edward Oral and Edwina (Lavoie) Thibault. I grew up in Bradley Maine, the middle child of seven. I decided to write my own obituary, for who knows more about me than, well me.

I graduated from Old Town High School class of 1976. Upon graduation, I hadn't a clue of what I wanted to study in college, so I took a year off. I decided to enroll in some business courses at UMO in 1977. Deciding during the spring semester not to return, I applied for work at the paper mill in Old Town Maine, then known as Diamond International.

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In 2003 it became apparent that the mill was struggling to survive. It was announced that there would be a layoff. I did not see the mill surviving, so I decided to take a layoff slip and avoid staying on a sinking ship. I moved with the mother of my children and former wife to Florida, and found work at Walt Disney World. I really enjoyed working for Walt and Mickey, but I returned alone to Maine nine months later. I managed to get back on my feet, and accepted a job, working in the housekeeping department at Eastern Maine Medical Center of Bangor. I worked there for 14 years, retiring in September of 2018.

While at the hospital, my life turned around. It was in the autumn of 2004 that I was reacquainted with Gail Sumner. Over the next 12 years she became my lady, my best friend, and my “alpha dog”. She brought me into the United Methodist Church. It was then that I discovered that my parents taught me how to be a Catholic, but the Methodist church taught me how to be a Christian. And on June 18, 2016, she became my wife. And it was well worth the wait. We experienced more in the years we were together than some couples ever achieve in a lifetime. We helped each other through the hardships that families can bring. Gail was always there for me as I for her. Our love is everlasting, and I know we will be together again.

When I met Gail, we were both members of the Maine Jaycees, my chapter in Old Town, and hers the River City Jaycees from Brewer. We were very active and were presidents of our respective chapters. In August 1992, I became president of the Maine Jaycees, replacing a president who had to step down due to illness. Gail and I were chosen by our chapters to be JCI Senators, an honor given to those who went above and beyond serving their community and chapter. My senate number was #51431. My years as a Jaycee and later as a Senator made me a better person and taught me that “Service to Humanity is the Best work of Life!”

In my later years, we traveled to many of the 50 states, took cruises and even went to Denmark.

For the remainder of my life, I lived in Florida, returning to Maine in the summer to visit family and friends. The people, their personalities and the similarities and differences that we shared, make it a great place to live. I loved to converse with those who I didn’t share a lot of similarities with.

I am survived by my beautiful wife Gail, of Frostproof, Florida, brother John of Portland, Oregon, sister Edith and husband Larry Brown of Lewiston, Maine, brother David and wife Karen of Old Town, Maine, sister Lisa and husband Jaime Budge of Milford, Maine, and favorite sister Michelle and her husband George Collins of Bradley, Maine. My children Amanda and her husband Brent West, of Stueben, Maine, and my son Edward Jr. of Lisbon Falls, Maine. Also leave behind 5 grandsons. Joseph, Christian, Isaac, Thomas, and Sabastian Thibault all of Saco, and one granddaughter Rachel West of Stueben. My life was surrounded by so many great friends. Special friends Mary and David Bagley, Tom and Judy Crosby, Marsha and Bill Thibodeau, Diana and Scott McKay, Dr. Tom Jensen, Karen Boudreau, Mark Jackson, Pollyanna Smith, Michelle Young and Suzanne Libbey, and my JCI family Wayne and Nancy Latham, Dana and Cyndi Hall, Dick and Laurette Darling, Merrill and Joy Pottle, Dawn and Paul Crabtree, Karen Furlan, Paul and Karen Ouellette, and the list goes on. These people were always considered family to me.

Life is so precious. I spent my whole life learning that. In the end, I knew that the people you love and those who hurt you help to shape you to become who you are. One takes the love and the hurt, and learns from them. Gail was my rock through my later years. She is the love of my life. I knew the moment we reconnected that she was my forever love.

My service of Death and Resurrection will be at First United Methodist Church in Frostproof FL on Saturday May 22, 2021 at 11:00am with Rev Debbie Mak officiating. There will be light refreshments after the service.

On Sunday July 25, 2021, there will be a Celebration of my Life in Maine. Contact Gail for details on time and location.

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